Abbott promised unmanned defence planes

The Federal Opposition has today promised to restore defence spending to Howard-era levels.

Addressing the RSL national conference, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott pledged to boost defence spending by three per cent a year; plug gaps in the nation's submarine capability and equip Defence with new unmanned surveillance aircraft.

Mr Abbott said these unmanned planes could be useful in protecting Australia's oil and gas interests on the North West Shelf and allowing earlier detection of asylum seeker boats.